Festival offers local bands a chance to be heard

By Heather Crabtree
The Entertainer

Anyone who’s lived in the Pacific Northwest for long knows about the music culture in our corner of the world. From southern Oregon to Seattle, a host of local talent highlights local venues, and some even make a showing on the larger music scene.

But even with all the garage bands, small studios and talent creating noise, the center of the music world is hardly here. Los Angeles, New York and Toronto, Canada, all hold the bulk of industry professionals, forcing those interested in pursuing a career from our area south to Southern California.

Push further north of Washington and the well-traveled Oregonian finds Vancouver, B.C., Canada, which has a music culture to rival that of Seattle and Portland.

Vancouver is also home to the NewMusicWest Festival, which brings industry professionals and bands from across the United States and Canada for five days of music, guest speakers and workshops at 25 venues throughout Vancouver.

The 15th annual festival will be April 26 through 30, 2006. Applications are being accepted from bands to perform at the festival.

29 Productions, the Vancouver-based company that has organized the festival since 2004, hopes to showcase bands from Oregon.

“It’s beneficial for (bands) to come up here. It’s also great for Canadian bands to make connections with American bands and American small labels,” said Jory Groberman, president and producer for 29 Productions. “Musicians don’t care about the borders and neither do the fans.”

Although bands that play NewMusicWest are usually unsigned, bands that have been around for a while and who have developed a local fan base are welcome to apply. In addition, 29 Productions is also working with smaller, local and Indie label to showcase artists that are already signed.

Artists who are accepted to play the festival have the chance to win prizes, including cash, gear and studio time, as well as a chance to be heard by industry professionals such as label reps, publishers and management companies.

“Even if your band doesn’t get in, it’s a good idea to come up and mill about and hand out your demo and business cards because the city is crawling with people with the industry and you never know who you’re going to meet in a bar at 2 o’clock in the morning,” Groberman said.

The festival isn’t limited to one specific genre either.

“We are looking for the next big thing in whatever genre it might be in. If it’s rock, alternative or even country, it doesn’t matter,” Groberman said. “We have 20 to 30 judges with lots of music industry experience.”

Notable artists that have played NewMusicWest in the past include Nickelback, Colin James, Run DMC, Modest Mouse, Mark Hildreth (www.mark-hildreth.com)

and Davis Trading (www.davistrading.com).

The deadline for applications is Jan. 13. Bands interested in performing can apply several ways:

First, artists can apply on line at the Sonicbids’ Web site, www.sonicbids.com/

Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=8752. For existing Sonicbids members, the cost to apply is $30 or $34.95 for new members. New members will receive a three-month membership and submission to to the ‘06 festival at no additional charge.

Applications can also be submitted by mail. Visit the NewMusicWest site at http://www.newmusicwest.com/nmw05/festival/apply.asp for a printable application form. Cost to apply is $45 (CAD). Mailed applications can be sent to: Attention Andie Bardeck, NewMusicWest, Suite 301, 1062 Homer St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 2W9, Canada.

Be sure to include the application form; band biography; an 8-by-11-inch photograph; a CD with at least two songs (judges will only listen to two, so specify which songs if there are more than two on the disk), and a certified check or money order. Mark all packages “Promotional Material” to avoid duty and other shipping costs. You will be notified when the package is received.

If you’re band is selected for a showcase spot, your bio and photo will be used online and possibly in the program. Make sure that you submit items that represent your band well. Please note that it is the artists’ responsibility to check and make sure they are eligible for entry into Canada.

For more information, e-mail play@newmusicwest.com or visit the NewMusicWest site at www.newmusicwest.com.